An Exceptional Twist

by Kimi Flores

  Leah started to follow until Stefen pulled her back. “You know I’d love to see you kick that woman’s ass, but as your lawyer, I have to ask that you don’t. We need to figure out if she has a case. Don’t add to it, babe.”

  She began to pace. “What am I going to do, Stefen? I can’t afford a lawsuit. What if she destroys everything I’ve worked for?”

  “Come here.” Wrapping his arms around her, he kissed her forehead. “I won’t let that happen. We’ll figure this out together. I promise.”

  Stefen was still furious. As a lawyer, he’s seen many cases where innocent people were screwed over because they trusted someone else.

  This was different.

  His Leah was the victim here.

  After investigating the mess Melissa left, Stefen wasn’t confident she didn’t have a case, so he advised Leah not to press charges. There was no paper trail that proved Melissa stole anything, but Leah’s accounting records didn’t add up. Tax season next year was going to be a bitch, but he told her he’d take care of it.

  Because of this, Leah had been working overtime, leaving little time for him. He missed her and wanted her next to him, especially in his bed. Stretching his hand across the sheets, he touched her cold spot while talking to her on the phone.

  “Okay, so I'll see you bright and early for a run, right?” Stefen was concerned. She’d worked a huge wedding that Melissa had set up off the books, and hadn't called him all day.

  He could hear in her voice how tired she was, and now she was insisting on staying at her house for the night. Thank goodness, her sister had stepped in to help while she was getting her own at-home practitioner’s business up and running.

  Her voice was somber. “Yeah. I’m sorry I haven’t been there with you. I’ve got to figure out what to do with the mess that ladrón left for me.”

  Stefen smiled. It was so sexy when she mixed Spanish and English words, but he wasn’t about to say that when she was talking about someone being a thief.

  “Why don’t you just let me help you, amor? We can hire professionals to take over for a bit. Remember, we’re in this together. Stop trying to do things on your own.”

  She huffed in frustrated. “Stefen, this is my business. I’ve worked too hard to make a name for myself. I have to be involved in every aspect of it.” Lightening up a bit, she added. “Besides, you are helping me by taking care of that bruja. I still can’t believe I fell for her scam. When will I learn not to trust every Tom, Dick, and Harry?”

  He told her tenderly, “Leah, that’s one of the qualities I love most about you. Don’t let that bitch change your compassion for people.”

  “I’m trying, but it’s really difficult when you’ve already been burned.” She sounded so hopeless.

  He panicked, “I hope you aren’t including our past in that statement.”

  “No,” she sighed. “You need to get over your own insecurities about that.”

  He did need to get over it. Though he didn’t like being told what to do, when Leah did it, it was kind of a turn on.

  Bothered, Stefen said, “I wish you weren't so tired. Just come home. I can always come get you.”

  The rustling of her covers got his attention. “I’m already in bed, and I’m exhausted. I think I met the original bridezilla today. I would’ve never agreed to work with her. She was awful and in the end, she still wasn't happy. I’m so over these big weddings. I swear, when I get married, I just want to elope, or do a quick ceremony at the courthouse like my mom and Sal are doing next month.”

  “You’re in bed?” He just couldn’t pass this up. “What are you wearing?”

  “Is that the only thing you heard?” Thankfully, her voice was filled with humor.

  He chuckled. “No. I was just curious.” But wouldn’t mind if you answered the question.

  “Good night,” she laughed sleepily. “I’ll see you in the morning.” There was a small pause before she added, “I love you.”

  He sighed, feeling his heart swell. “Love you, too.”

  Tossing and turning, it took Leah a while to find a comfortable spot. She’d already grown accustomed to sleeping next to Stefen, and missed him tonight. The thought crossed her mind to just get up and go home. She needed him but was too tired to drive safely.

  Just as she began to doze off, she heard the front door open. Her heart began to hammer, her body pounding as she waited for a familiar voice to put her at ease.

  Thirty seconds passed. Nothing.

  Maybe it was my imagination.

  A shape filled the doorway to her bedroom.

  Not my imagination!

  Squeezing her comforter to her chest, she said a silent prayer.

  The figure stepped toward her. She was on the verge of screaming when Stefen whispered, “Are you asleep, ma chérie?”

  Leah sprang up, and he jumped back.

  His back hit the wall. “Oh shit!”

  “You scared me!” she wailed.

  After realizing they’d frightened each other, they both fell into a fit of hysterics.

  “I didn’t expect you to bounce up like a damn jack-in-the-box. Those little bastards scare the shit out of me.” He walked over to his side of the bed, stripped off his clothes and shoes, then climbed in beside her. “That’s not how I thought I’d be greeting you.”

  “Well, I didn’t expect you to break into my apartment.” She cocked her head at him.

  “I didn’t break in,” he grumbled. “I have a key.”

  Her face softened. “I’m glad you’re here. I was contemplating getting in the car and coming home.”

  Kissing her shoulder, he wrapped his arms around her and pulled her back close to his chest. “I can’t sleep without you anymore.”

  “Me neither.” She settled into the warmth of his body.

  “Listen, amor, I know you want to do this all by yourself, but please don’t push me away. We really are in this together.” He kissed her shoulder again. “Let me help.”

  She had a difficult time concentrating when his breath hit her neck. “I’m not trying to push you away.” Hugging his arms tighter around her body, she buried her head in the crook of his arm. Damn, I love this man. She needed him to understand where she was coming from. “I’ve always done everything on my own. I don’t know any different. It took so long for me to give up any control of my business, and then I got screwed over.”

  Bringing his mouth to her ear, he whispered, “You help everyone and their mother. You need to learn how to accept help yourself from people you can trust. You showed me that. It’s my turn to show you. Just give me a chance.” He ran his hands up and down her arm, and she felt that he meant every word.

  She looked over her shoulder. “I’ll think about it. That’s the best I can do for now.”

  He sighed. “I’ll accept that. Just know I’ll show up and crawl into your bed naked anytime you try to sleep elsewhere.”

  She brought his hand up to her mouth and bit his knuckle. “Are you trying to get me to sleep here every night?”

  Pressing his body into hers, Stefen growled, “I never said I wouldn’t do the same in our bed at our home.”

  Her body began to pound with desire. Suddenly, she wasn’t very tired anymore.

  Leah stood behind the store counter as a delivery man that she’d only seen a couple of times walked through the front door. He was carrying a shipment of vases she planned on using for Abby’s baby shower next weekend.

  “Hey.” He nodded. “Whatever happened to the owner of this shop? I never see her anymore.”

  Caught off guard, Leah huffed, “I’m the owner.” She glared at the innocent guy in brown shorts and button down shirt.

  He took a step back. “Oh, I just assumed, since I only ever saw her.”

  Leah raised her eyebrows. “Well she’s gone—permanently.”

  “Can I get you to sign this?” He handed her the electronic tablet, avoiding eye contact.

  “Sure.” She scribbled her signature an
d handed it over, turning her back to open her package.

  Feeling bad immediately, she turned to apologized, but he was gone. Oh well. Unless he asked to change his route, I’ll see him again. She could ask for forgiveness later.

  She’d tried to suppress her feelings about the whole Melissa debacle, but it seemed like she found something new every day. Even Zachary had been effected. He’d had a new wedding coordinator who didn’t know any better and booked a bunch of weddings for Melissa. Now Leah was afraid of hiring anyone else, but it was wearing on her. She was beginning to consider Stefen’s offer.

  The vases inside the box were even more beautiful than they were online. As she dug through the box, she noticed there was some bubble wrap mixed in with the foam popcorn. Careful not to break anything, she yanked the sheet out of the box and giggled. She’d always had a thing for bubble wrap. It made her smile.

  Yay! Go me!

  Squeezing the large air-filled bubble, she waited for the pop, but it didn’t come. Damn, this one is hard. Moving to the next air pocket, she was unable to break that one, either. Maybe there’s something wrong with my grip. Just as she was about to try the third one, her phone rang.

  “Hello.” She held the phone between her shoulder and ear, trying to bust the indestructible bubbles.

  It was Jenna from the dance studio. “Hey, Leah, the new owner is here moving things around and wondered when you’re going to come pick up your equipment.”

  “What?” She squeezed the bubble wrap and held the phone tighter.

  Jenna hesitated. “Uh, didn’t Stefen tell you?”

  She slammed the sheet of plastic down onto the counter. “Tell me what?”

  “Shit, Leah, I thought you knew by now.” Jenna paused. “Stefen promised he was going to tell you that Celeste sold the studio. The new owners have other plans and didn’t leave any room on the schedule for your class.”

  Her face turned beet red with anger as she took a pair of scissors and began to stab the unpoppable bubble wrap. She grit her teeth. “Are you kidding me?”

  What else is going to happen? And Stefen knew about this?

  Trying to calm herself down, she took a deep breath. “Thanks for telling me. Can I call you later and make arrangements to get my stuff?”

  What am I going to tell the kids? How could Stefen keep something like this from me?

  “No problem. I can take your stuff to my house if you like. Today’s my last day and my daughter won’t mess with any of it.”

  “That would be great, Jenna. Thanks.” She ended the call as Abby walked through the door in all her pregnant glory.

  Leah was still in slaughter mode as she held up the bubble wrap, yelling at it. “There is a special place in hell for the sadistic bastard that invented this sick joke!”

  Abby stopped, her smile disappearing. “What’s going on?”

  Holding the scissors up, she scoffed, “I was just informed that the studio was sold, I no longer have a class, and Stefen knew all about it.” Leah couldn’t believe her shitty luck lately. “That’s on top of the crap that Melissa left behind. I just don’t know how much more I can handle.”

  Removing the sharp object from Leah’s hands, Abby pulled her into a hug, stroking the back of her hair. “I can’t imagine Stefen was trying to keep it from you. Give him a chance to explain. He’s been calling Caleb a lot lately, getting all kinds of relationship advice. I get it, though. Guys just don’t think the way we do.”

  Leah pulled back, sniffling. “I didn’t know Stefen talked to Caleb about us.”

  Moving the strands of hair away from Leah eyes, Abby said, “Of course you didn’t. They have their own male bonding thing going on. I only know about it because I overhear Caleb sometimes. Hold on a minute.” She waved to Leah while doing her breathing exercises. “Braxton Hicks.”

  Leah looked at Abby questionably. “Um, do I need to take you to the hospital?”

  Blowing in and out through her puckered lips, Abby assured her, “No, give me a minute. It’ll go away.” Abby rubbed her belly, then bent forward a bit, the pain on her face finally ebbing. “Okay. It's over.”

  “Is that normal?” Leah tried not to panic. She hadn’t been around when Elena went into labor. And Abby still had another four weeks to go.

  “Perfectly,” Abby assured her again. “I've been having these for a week. But a few more today than normal. I didn’t tell Caleb because I wanted to come see you. I only need to be concerned if they start coming close to each—” Her face crumpled again. “Holy moly, here's another. Oh, mother fucker. This hurts. Okay, I give,” she gasped, doubling over. “Call Caleb.”

  I’ve never heard Abby cuss before. That shit must really hurt.

  Abby squatted down holding onto the counter next to her, breathing in and out, and Leah grabbed her cell. Oh please don’t have the baby right here on the floor of my store.

  Rushing through her contacts, she dialed Stefen without thinking.

  He quickly answered, “Are you at the shop, sweetie? I was just about to call you. Leaving Caleb’s now. I need to see you, so we can talk about something.”

  “Not now Stefen,” she snapped, all her earlier anger returning. “I think Abby’s in labor. Tell Caleb I'm taking her to the hospital.”

  Abby’s breaths were quickening and getting noisier.

  There was a brief pause on Stefen’s end, then he said in a low, quick voice, “We’ll meet you guys there.”

  Leah hung up without saying goodbye, ran to lock up the front door, then waited for the next contraction to finish before helping Abby up. They waddled together out the back of the store into her van.

  As soon as Abby was seated, she moaned with another contraction, grabbing hold of the dashboard.

  Okay, Leah was officially panicking now. “Is this normal?”

  “Every pregnancy is different, but this is too early,” Abby grunted.

  Leah zoomed around and got into the driver’s seat, started the van, then drove like a bat out of hell.

  “Oh my gosh Leah!” Abby grabbed Leah’s shoulder and squeezed. This hurts like a son of a bitch.” Suddenly, Abby’s eyes went wide as she started to cry. “Oh crap!”

  Leah followed her gaze and saw Abby’s seat was soaked.

  “My water just broke in your car!” Abby wailed.

  Trying to remain calm herself, Leah said. “Abby, it’s okay. Don't worry about it. Let's just get you to the hospital.”

  At a red light, she sent Stefen a quick text.

  Leah: Water just broke in the van. Definitely in labor.

  Stefen: K. On our way.

  Leah was thankful that the hospital was less than ten minutes away because Abby screamed in pain the whole way. Pulling up to the emergency entrance, Leah ran in, practically shouting at the voluptuous, grey haired lady at the desk. “My friend is in labor. Can I get her a wheelchair?”

  The receptionist’s answered, “Yes. I'll have it brought out to you.”

  Energized by pure adrenalin, Leah ran back to Abby, reached around and rubbed her back. “They’re bringing a wheelchair right now.”

  Tears ran down Abby’s cheeks. “Leah, I'm so sorry. We'll get your car cleaned.” She was in between contractions, but still breathing hard.

  “Seriously stop!” Leah yelled. “It’s a freaking car, and we are having a baby right now! I'm so excited!”

  Someone came up behind her with a wheelchair.

  Leah asked them, “Can I leave my van here for a minute? I have someone coming to move it.”

  “Sure.” The dark-hair male orderly shrugged.

  Leah grabbed her phone, shooting Stefen another text.

  Leah: Please move my van from emergency.

  Stefen: Almost there!

  Turning off her phone, Leah ran to catch up to Abby as they wheeled her into the labor and delivery unit.

  “Dude, you need to calm down,” Stefen told Caleb for the thousandth time. “We’re almost there. She won’t have the baby without you. I'll dro
p you off and meet you inside, but you seriously need to chill out before you see her. She needs you to be strong right now.”

  Caleb’s eyes were unfocussed. “I'm good. Pull up right there.” He pointed to the curb in front of the hospital, then jumped out before Stefen came to a complete stop.

  Madison sat in the backseat with a worried expression.

  “Are you okay, squirt?” He looked at her reflection in the rearview mirror.

  Madison’s little bottom lip stuck out. “Is Mama going to be okay?”

  He turned around to look at her. “Of course she is. She’s having your baby brother or sister right now.”

  Cocking her head to the side, she seemed sure he didn’t get what she was asking. “I know, but is she going to be alive? My mommy in heaven died after she had me.”

  A stabbing pain took ahold of his chest as he turned to look for a parking space. This sweet little girl was afraid that her new mom was going to die giving birth because her biological mother died a year after having to her.

  “Oh, squirt,” he murmured. “Your mommy in heaven was sick, and it had nothing to do with having you. Abby, I mean your mama, is in perfect health. She’s going to give you a gorgeous brother or sister and everyone will be fine.”

  Now that he was thinking about it, he hoped he was right. All sorts of things could happen during labor. He pulled into a parking space after driving by the emergency entrance, spotting Leah's van.

  Madison’s worried eyebrows broke his heart. “But my daddy looked so scared.”

  Stefen turned around in his seat, so he could look her in the eyes. “Daddy wasn't scared. He was excited. He can't wait to meet the baby. Come on. Let's go move Auntie Leah's car.” He got out, opened her door, and held her hand while walking to Leah's van.

  Grimacing at the very wet passenger seat, Stefen was thankful that he’d already made plans regarding her new mode of transportation.